PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Kraft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilary Valujew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Kraft could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ilary Valujew's chin.

Kraft
vs
Valujew

180 cm
25
183 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
178 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Kraft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilary Valujew!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Valujew with that takedown attempt.
Kraft thows a body shot but no joy.
Valujew looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A jab from Kraft does it's job there.
Kraft throws a series of strikes that have Valujew backpedaling.
Valujew takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Valujew is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kraft sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Steven Kraft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilary Valujew.
Valujew shoots in but Kraft avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kraft swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kraft will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Valujew shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kraft defends it nicely.
Valujew shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kraft sprawls well. Kraft wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valujew gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraft stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kraft wants it to stay on the feet.
Kraft swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Kraft, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kraft misses the shot to the body.
Kraft misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steven Kraft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kraft misses with a body shot.
Kraft is looking to wear down Valujew with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kraft takes a swing at Valujew's ribcage but misses.
Kraft throws a right hand that Valujew ducks under and follows up with a left that Valujew also avoids with ease.
Kraft throws a nice looking combination but Valujew bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kraft jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kraft looks to land a right hand but Valujew moved out of range.
Kraft fails to land with a series of punches.
Valujew fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Valujew has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Valujew there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kraft just misses with a punch to the body.

Valujew gets a takedown into half guard.
Valujew is trying to control. Kraft wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Valujew controlling the action here.
Kraft tries to roll over but Valujew keeps him under control.
Valujew drops an elbow to the side of Kraft's head.
Valujew missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraft avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valujew.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valujew trying to control the action but Kraft is working from the bottom.
Kraft keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Valujew thows a huge punch but Kraft dodges it nicely.
Valujew thows a huge punch but Kraft dodges it nicely.
Valujew seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Valujew thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kraft's head.
Valujew throwing shots but Kraft is blocking nicely.
Valujew is trying to control. Kraft wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valujew seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kraft is breathing heavily.
Valujew throwing shots but Kraft is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kraft blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valujew.
Valujew missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Valujew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kraft keeps working.
Valujew working over Kraft with some ground and pound. Kraft looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Valujew thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kraft's head.
Valujew not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Valujew is controlling the pace.
Valujew working over Kraft with some ground and pound. Kraft looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Valujew throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ilary Valujew will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kraft tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valujew was well out of range. Poor timing from Kraft.
Kraft displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valujew.
Valujew closes the distance and clinches up with Kraft, looking for a takedown. Valujew pushes Kraft against the cage but Kraft circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Kraft, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valujew throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kraft's waist but Kraft gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valujew off to one side.
Steven Kraft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilary Valujew.
Kraft stuffs the takedown.
Valujew shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kraft but Kraft pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kraft throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valujew is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kraft sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Valujew shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kraft napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Valujew.
Valujew looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kraft is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valujew in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Valujew has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kraft misses with a hook.
Valujew fails with a takedown attempt.
Valujew fails with a takedown attempt.
Valujew shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kraft sprawls well. Kraft wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valujew gets slowly back to his feet.
Valujew fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valujew is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kraft sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kraft wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Valujew.
Kraft connects with a crisp jab.
Kraft throws a body punch but Valujew moves out of range.
Kraft throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sloppy strikes from Kraft. Those never looked like landing.
Kraft lands a right hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kraft. Valujew does a little dance to reset his feet.
Valujew uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kraft.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valujew uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kraft.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kraft. Valujew does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kraft slaps away a takedown attempt from Valujew, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kraft stuffs the takedown.
Kraft looks to score with a jab to the body but Valujew is just out of range.
Kraft scores with a one two! Valujew had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Steven Kraft is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kraft keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Valujew avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kraft displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valujew.
Valujew fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valujew is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kraft's half guard.
Kraft is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kraft knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Valujew on the ground.
Valujew missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Valujew is looking to take a break and control but Kraft is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valujew lands strikes from half guard.
Valujew winds up and cracks Kraft with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Valujew tries to pass to full mount but Kraft defends it.
Valujew trying to control from half guard but Kraft is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ilary Valujew will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Valujew looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kraft is fending him off so far but Valujew persists. Nope, Kraft circles away and we're back to standing.
Valujew moves away from the strike by Kraft.
Kraft swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kraft lands with a cross.
Kraft misses with a two punch combination.
A slow jab from Kraft misses its intended target.
Kraft connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Valujew dodges the punch combination from Kraft.
Kraft slaps away a takedown attempt from Valujew, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valujew uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kraft.
Valujew looks for a takedown but Kraft sprawls well.
Steven Kraft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilary Valujew.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraft misses with a hook.
Kraft misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valujew.
Valujew shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kraft defends it nicely.
Valujew closes the distance and clinches up with Kraft, looking for a takedown. Valujew pushes Kraft against the cage but Kraft circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Valujew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice sprawl there from Kraft as Valujew shoots in.
Valujew takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kraft stuffs the takedown attempt from Valujew. Valujew gets slowly back to his feet.
Kraft swings for the body but Valujew moves out of range.
Valujew displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kraft throws out the jab.
Kraft lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valujew circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Valujew takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kraft fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Valujew walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Valujew misses with a takedown attempt - Kraft sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Valujew takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kraft misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valujew is defended easily by Kraft.
Jab from Kraft.
Valujew fails to land the takedown.

Valujew feints and as Kraft raises his hands in defense, Valujew changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valujew postures up in Kraft's guard and throws a big left but Kraft blocks it.
Valujew wants to control from the top but Kraft keeps moving.
Valujew works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Valujew takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Valujew thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Valujew throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Valujew has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kraft blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valujew.
Valujew passes to side control.
Valujew landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valujew lands some shots froms side control.
You can see the frustration on Kraft's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Steven Kraft has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Valujew lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kraft down.
Kraft taking punishment in the form of punches.
Valujew cracks Kraft with a big right hand but Kraft just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kraft is working to avoid the ground and pound but Valujew connects with a decent elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valujew landing strikes.
Valujew working the head and body with strikes.
Valujew working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valujew lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ilary Valujew is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valujew content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilary Valujew comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valujew winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilary Valujew!